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Friday, December 30, 2016

PROF SYUKRI'S WIDA' MEETINGS

Simply beyond words - Dr. Fadzila Azni Ahmad presented a specially dedicated gift inspired by the heart to convey a heartfelt 'Thank You' to Prof Syukri for leading ISDEV as its Director since its inception.

It is the final week for 2016. It also the final week for Professor Dr Muhammad Syukri Salleh to helm the Centre for Islamic Development Management Studies (ISDEV) as its director. Being a visionary leader who leads by example, and definitely walks the talk, Prof. Syukri has arranged for a series of meeting, on three consecutive days, with ISDEV fraternity in his final week as ISDEV Director. The first is his Wida' Meeting with the administrative staff of ISDEV followed by a Wida' Meeting with ISDEV Academic Staff consisting of 6 Senior Lecturers, 2 ISDEV Academic Staff Training Scheme (ASTS) and 1 Honorary Lecturer. As a cap to this series of meetings, is the Tarbiyyah Pengarah held on Friday 30 December 2016 at Dewan Pembangunan Siswa I. This series of meetings with ISDEV fraternity is to ensure that the transition of Associate Professor Dr Zakaria Bahari as the new Director of ISDEV comes 1 January, 2017 is smooth flowing and without much hitches, in shaa Allah.

Wida' meeting with ISDEV administrative staff.

On 28 December 2016, ISDEV Director, Prof. Syukri allocated a special time to meet with ISDEV administrative staff. His meeting took place at ISDEV Meeting Room at 9:30am. Among the highlights in his final meet as ISDEV Director with ISDEV administrative staff is that he stressed the need for ISDEV to be a centre where Islam is much alive. He also kept reminding ISDEV administrative staff to be positive, hard working, actively spread Islam in order to obtain rewards and barakah. As a Muslim, he also touched on how to be and bring a good image of Islam where ISDEV will continue to be an example to other centres as well as to other Muslims. At the end of his speech he advised all administrative staff to simplify other people's business in order to make Allah SWT simplify our journey in spreading Islam.

Prof. Syukri presented a farewell gift to Khairun Adawiyah as a keepsake for her to remember ISDEV.

In the meantime, on the same day, Khairun Adawiyah, one of ISDEV staff also celebrated her last day as a staff of ISDEV. After three years, three month and seven days (25/9/2013-30/12/2016), she decided not to continue her contract as she wanted to focus on her health. In her farewell speech, she apologized for all her wrongdoings and at the same time recorded her utmost thanks to all ISDEV members for all the experiences she gained and sweet memories she had.

Wida' meeting with ISDEV academic staff.

The next day, Thursday 29 December, 2016 was ISDEV academic staff's turn to hear, listen and be inspired once more with the wisdom of their revered and much loved leader. Prof Syukri was well prepared and appeared calm and well composed to deliver his final words of advice, reminders and matters that need to be taken up by the new Director of ISDEV in ensuring that ISDEV's target to be a Regional Reference Centre by 2020 becomes a reality. He also reminded ISDEV lecturers to be mindful of the Education Blueprint so that any programme and activities including even research endeavours take into account the needs and requirements of the Education Blueprint.

Too filled with emotions. The Tarbiyyah Pengarah as Prof Syukri haltered at various points
during his final address in his capacity as ISDEV Director.

The final day marked the final working day of Prof Syukri as ISDEV Director before the baton is passed to Associate Professor Dr Zakaria on Sunday 1 January, 2017. Congregating at Dewan Siswazah 1, Kompleks Cahaya, Unversiti Sains Malaysia, after the Majlis Restu Ilmu of MISDEV 15.1 (Postgraduate by Mixed-Mode) students, and the change of leadership of members of Ahli Bersekutu ISDEV (ABI), it was time for all ISDEV members to lend their ears and hearts to listen and be spiritually and intellectually touched by the final words of Prof Syukri as ISDEV Director. Prof Syukri started his farewell address with the history of ISDEV which had spanned 56.5% of his life. ISDEV started at about the same time he accepted his appointment as a lecturer at USM.

The line-up of ISDEV current lecturers.

Although ISDEV was not physically present then, nonetheless his fervor to pursue for Islam had already been sown deep within him. through the process of various trials and tribulations be it physical, intellectual or spiritual, none of this tests perturbed him and made him gave up. In fact it raised his confidence to strive further for Islam until such a time he met with friends who had the same fikrah (understanding) as him. Associate Professor Dr Zakaria is that friend who had stood together with him over the years to be followed by Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad and Dr Mohd Shukri Hanapi. These are the pioneers of ISDEV who had stick through thick and thin weathering the storm when anything, at one point in time, in referring or mentioning of Islam would be looked upon with disdain and utmost detest.

ISDEV members at Dewan Siswazah 1.

However Alhamdulillah, that was all the past. As the fervour for Islam has also shifted with the passing of time, and those who want to see Islam to its rightful glory increased, the path to strive further was opened with ISDEV being granted a Virtual Centre status and later in 2013 to become a full fledged Research Centre of Excellence (CoE). He reminded the 3 basic but main pillars that built ISDEV - 1) Iman & Taqwa; 2) Ukhuwwah (Brotherhood); and 3) Syncronization of Thoughts and Understanding. He also stressed on the need for ISDEV members to respect and follow Assoc. Prof. Dr Zakaria. Prof Syukri was as a matter-of-fact rather opened about his sentiments and pleaded to all ISDEV members to safeguard ISDEV, his love, and not to take the opportunity to destroy ISDEV especially in front of his very own eyes as he will still be reporting for duty at ISDEV on 1 January, 2017 in his capacity as an academician, a Professor of Islamic-base Development until his retirement due on 1 August, 2017.